Interview
Report
Interview Team
Salman Jamal
Imran Mehmood
Qurrat-ul-Ain
Hira Khurram (not present at Interview)
Komal Quddus
Reporter Name: AHMAD FRAZ
(CRIME REPORTER)
Salman: Briefly introduce yourself
Reporter: My name is Ahmad Fraz and I am a crime
reporter for the last 22 years. I started my career from “Khabrein” newspaper.
At that time, print media was a dominant force in Pakistan. But in 2002, when
electronic media gained scope, I switched over and in electronic media I have
been working up till now since 2002.
Salman: How do you feel about your successful
transition from print media to electronic media?
Reporter: I claim that print media is much easier to
handle (for a reporter) as compared to electronic media. The reason behind this
is the swiftness which is present in electronic media. We have to work
tirelessly in electronic media. But in print media, things are (and were)
easier because meeting deadlines were easy and we just had to submit our
reports in the evening through fax. The time we spend (in electronic media) on
field is a lot and much more time is spent in the office where our scripts have
to be written and things have to be edited and then presented on TV.
Salman: If (you are terming) electronic media is more
difficult than print media, then what is the “charm” which still keeps you
intact here in electronic media?
Reporter: Good
question! Actually, print media’s salary structure is weak. As compared to
that, “salary” which is the basic pulling factor, has a better salary structure
in electronic media. Incentives and allowances are good.
Salman: What are the
challenges faced by a reporter who is struggling in this field as a newbie? Be
very brief! Narrate down some possible solutions.
Reporter: You are basically
talking about a reporter. A reporter is that person who can report things
efficiently and accurately, who has links and good public relations. A person
who has good links with people can easily extract necessary information and
report this information effectively. A reporter who works for a newspaper
organization or a news channel on TV (all over the world) is, no doubt, an
ambassador of the news organization. If I report something through a telephonic
conversation, the office won’t counter check me. They will believe on me. The
basic challenges are not that difficult to counter. Meeting deadlines is
important. And you have to be punctual. Reporter must have good writing skills!
Salman: How do you meet your deadlines?
Reporter: We have deadlines every day. At 8 in the evening, we
have to file our reports so they can be on aired timely. No matter what we
cover, whatever assignment we are on, 8pm is the submission time every day
24/7, 365 days a year.
Qurrat-ul-Ain:
8pm? So you have to meet
your deadlines without a relaxation?
Reporter: No relaxation! If I am assigned something, I have to
do it on time. TIMELINESS IS THE KEY!
Salman: Have you always been a crime reporter?
Reporter: Yes! My beat of reporting has always been crime. I
have reported a lot of incidents for the last 22 years.
Imran: Sir, you must have faced a lot of problems in crime
reporting because this is a sensitive issue and reporters get threatened. How
has been your experience?
Reporter: It is a challenging field. While reporting on
criminal issues, I have had many experiences where I have been threatened.
Once, on my way to Balochistan, I was caught by tribal leaders and they forced
me to sleep in our car and after a lot of negotiation, they set me free. There
are many other incidents and the list is very long. We have to collect
information. Information is hidden from us. There are fights too. Abuses are
also hurled at us. But we have to be patient and abstain from conflicts and
finish up our deadlines.
Imran: How did you find your experience in Khabrein?
Reporter: Khabrein is a small organization. I love working at
Geo.
Imran: This career of reporting must have brought changes
in your personality. If you want to share, please do not hesitate to do so.
Reporter: I get angrier now as compared to in the past.
Qurrat-ul-Ain:
Why?
Reporter: The work here is fast. People here turn into stress freaks and caffeine addicts. (It) Involves lots of stress.
Sometimes, I even have to miss the meals!
Salman: Lets wind the clocks back 22 years. How were your
first 30 days?
Reporter: I used to have a cycle. I had to travel to different
locations on the cycle. And that was a really tough job. I completed my BA and
MA from University of the Punjab while working in this field of reporting.
Komal: Sir, where do you see yourself after 1 year?
Reporter: I see myself in the United States of America.
Working over there is easier.
Komal: Any particular thing that you feel you wanted to do
but couldn’t get the time and means?
Reporter: Yes! I want to interview Daud Ibrahim. And then I
will feel that I have fulfilled the right of crime reporting.
Interviewing
Team: Sir, thank you for giving
your valuable time.
Reporter: You welcome!
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